Protect Working Musicians Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]
Introduced
Summary
Creates a narrow antitrust safe harbor so small, independent music owners can collectively negotiate licensing terms with dominant streaming platforms and generative AI developers. The bill would let qualifying indie rights holders jointly set licensing terms or refuse to license under strict conditions.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Safe harbor for independent creators
This bill would let qualifying independent music creators negotiate licensing terms together. You would qualify if you own the copyrights and earned under $1,000,000 last year or are a small business under NAICS 512250. Qualifying creators would get an antitrust safe harbor when negotiating or refusing to license with dominant music platforms or companies working on generative AI. The safe harbor would apply only if negotiations are not limited to price, are nondiscriminatory, are reasonably necessary and directly related, and include only qualifying creators and dominant platforms.
Which companies the bill covers
This bill would define which companies are covered by the Act. A Dominant Online Music Distribution Platform would be a public music listening service with more than $100,000,000 in annual music-related revenue and not eligible for a section 114(d)(2) license. The bill would define generative artificial intelligence as systems that generate novel text, images, video, audio, or other media from prompts. These definitions would take effect upon enactment and decide which companies creators can negotiate with under the safe harbor.
Antitrust scope and definitions
This bill would define "antitrust laws" for the Act to include the Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. 12) and, where applicable, section 5 of the FTC Act (15 U.S.C. 45). It would also include State laws that prohibit conduct inconsistent with the safe-harbor rules. The bill would say it does not modify, impair, or supersede antitrust laws except as the Act expressly provides. These rules would take effect upon enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]
NC • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]
TN • D
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37]
TX • D
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov